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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Mental Health Behavior

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, causing long-term stress and fear.

Overview

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that some people develop after they experience or see a traumatic event. The traumatic event may be life-threatening, such as combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. Sometimes the event is not necessarily a dangerous one, such as the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one.

It is normal to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation, which triggers a "fight-or-flight" response. While most people recover naturally, people with PTSD continue to feel stressed and frightened long after the trauma is over. Symptoms may start later on or come and go over time.

Causes & Risk Factors

Researchers do not know why some people develop PTSD and others do not. Genetics, neurobiology, and personal factors may play a role. Risk factors include:

  • Your sex (women are more likely to develop PTSD)
  • Having had trauma in childhood
  • Feeling horror, helplessness, or extreme fear
  • Going through a traumatic event that lasts a long time
  • Having little or no social support after the event
  • Dealing with extra stress after the event, such as loss of a loved one, pain and injury, or loss of a job or home
  • Having a history of mental illness or substance use

Symptoms

There are four types of PTSD symptoms, which may vary by individual:

  • Re-experiencing symptoms: Feeling fear again when reminded of the trauma, including flashbacks, nightmares, and frightening thoughts.
  • Avoidance symptoms: Trying to avoid situations, people, places, or objects that trigger memories of the event, or avoiding thoughts and feelings related to the trauma.
  • Arousal and reactivity symptoms: Being jittery or on the lookout for danger, including being easily startled, feeling tense or "on edge," having difficulty sleeping, and having angry outbursts.
  • Cognition and mood symptoms: Negative changes in beliefs and feelings, such as trouble remembering the event, negative thoughts about yourself or the world, feeling blame and guilt, loss of interest in enjoyed activities, and trouble concentrating.

If your symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, you might have PTSD.

Diagnosis

A health care provider experienced in mental illness can diagnose PTSD through a mental health screening and physical exam. To receive a diagnosis, you must have all of the following symptoms for at least one month:

  • At least one re-experiencing symptom
  • At least one avoidance symptom
  • At least two arousal and reactivity symptoms
  • At least two cognition and mood symptoms

Treatment & Management

The main treatments for PTSD are talk therapy, medicines, or both:

  • Talk therapy (psychotherapy): Teaches you about your symptoms, how to identify triggers, and how to manage them.
  • Medicines: Antidepressants may help control symptoms such as sadness, worry, anger, and feeling numb. Other medicines can help with sleep problems and nightmares.

Prevention

Resilience factors can help reduce the risk of developing PTSD, including:

  • Seeking support from friends, family, or a support group
  • Learning to feel good about your actions in the face of danger
  • Having a coping strategy to get through and learn from the event
  • Being able to act and respond effectively despite feeling fear

Frequently Asked Questions

Trauma‑focused cognitive‑behavioral therapy (TF‑CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) have strong research support. Both involve processing the traumatic memory in a safe setting and teaching coping skills. Medication such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be added for anxiety or depression, but therapy remains the cornerstone.
If symptoms persist longer than a month, interfere with work, relationships, or sleep, or cause you to avoid daily activities, it’s time to reach out. Also seek help if you notice worsening nightmares, flashbacks, or thoughts of self‑harm, even if you’ve managed before.
Use simple language: describe specific triggers, what a flashback feels like, and how it affects your mood. Share one concrete example, set boundaries about topics that are too painful, and let them know what support you need (e.g., patience, a quiet space, or help finding a therapist). Offer resources like pamphlets or reputable websites so they can learn at their own pace.
Ground yourself by naming five things you see, four you can touch, three you hear, two you smell, and one you taste. Deep, slow breathing (4‑7‑8 pattern) can reduce physiological arousal. Carry a small “comfort kit” (e.g., a smooth stone, scented lotion) to focus on tactile sensations, and remind yourself that the flashback is a memory, not current danger.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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